Colin Kaepernick in his weekly session: “I feel like I’m starting to get some of my wiggle back”

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Defensive end Calais Campbell #93 of the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers shake hands after the NFL football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. Arizona won 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA–I spoke to Colin Kaepernick for several minutes after his regular weekly session in the 49ers locker room today, but also asked some specific things in the big group and he had some interesting answers.

He had several good answers on football matters, too, from that session.

I’ll post my own conversation with Kaepernick in just a bit. I asked him about his influences, his relationship with his parents through this protest, and much more.

The general conversation started with football and also got into why Kaepernick feels so much more comfortable talking to the media now than when three or four years ago.

Here’s a partial transcript of the general session. I will follow this later with my Q & A with Kaepernick after that session.

—COLIN KAEPERNICK general media session snippets/
-Q: Is it fair to say that you’re starting to get your rhythm back after maybe feeling a little rusty at the start?

-KAEPERNICK: Yeah, as much as I’d like to think I could jump right back in and be 100% on top of my game, it was something that took a little bit to get into a rhythm, get comfortable with everything that’s happening within the offense.

And it’s coming more and more every week, that I feel comfortable with what’s going on, how we’re calling plays, how we’re trying to get things done and being able to build on those.

-Q: Why is it important to know why the play is called?

-KAEPERNICK: It’s like anything, if you do it and don’t know the intention of why you’re doing it, you really don’t have a purpose, you don’t understand why you’re doing what you’re doing.

So having that complete understanding of ‘we’re calling this play to try to get this done,’ is very helpful; it helps you get through progressions quicker and also helps you play with a clear mind.

-Q: What are your memories of that shoot-around with Tom Brady in 2012?

-KAEPERNICK: I remember being up a lot and having them come rushing back. It was a great feeling to go up there, get that victory, especially against a team like that. It was huge. And you know it was another confidence-builder for our team, for myself, at that point in time, that we were playing one of the best teams in the league and went there on the road, I want to say it was in December, and won.

I think we have a similar opportunity this week to play a very good Patriots team and go out and get a victory.

-Q: We asked you about not voting a few days ago. You’ve received criticism for this. Did you think about voting even down-ballot on the local stuff?

-KAEPERNICK: You know, I thought a lot of different things about the process and what I could and couldn’t do.

Once again, the system of oppression is what I have an issue with.

-Q: It has been reported that you’ve never registered to vote. Is that because you haven’t been interested?

-KAEPERNICK: Once again, I addressed that, continue to address it–I don’t agree with the system of oppression, that’s something that I will continue to not agree with.

-Q: How are you feeling physically? Do you feel like you did maybe even back to 2013?

-KAEPERNICK: Yeah, I’m feeling better and better every week.

I feel like I’m starting to get some of my wiggle back, some of the movement. Starting to feel like I’m very comfortable where my health is, where my body is moving, those things.

-Q: Are you back to where you were weight-wise back before the surgeries?

-KAEPERNICK: Yeah, I’m right around that same area weight-wise.

-Q: A few years ago, you didn’t seem to like talking to the media. You were terse and maybe rude sometimes. Was going through your head then and why do you think you’re more open now?

-KAEPERNICK: I’m comfortable with everything that I’m saying–what I represent, who I am. At that point in time, there was a situation where I didn’t feel comfortable talking because I didn’t want my words used against me.

And now I know if I represent my words properly, what my stance is, who I am properly, then those words can’t be used against me.

-Q: These issues were in your head back then? You were thinking through this?

-KAEPERNICK: Not thinking through them, it’s just things that I’ve seen. Watching what’s happened, who’s saying what… you know those are things that, as a young person, ‘OK, why am I going to speak on those?’

As I’ve gotten older, it’s being able to be true to what I believe in, who I am, and regardless how people want to take that, that’s on them. That’s not a reflection of who I am.

-Q: When did you get to that point where you were comfortable saying these things?

-KAEPERNICK: It’s hard to say specifically when. It’s a constant evolution, it’s constant growth, being able to become a better man.

-Q: Do you think you’re more open with your teammates now?

-KAEPERNICK: I think I’ve always been open with my teammates. I’ve never had issues talking with them or being open with them.

-Q: Another voting question… you’re advocating for change and one day to do that is to vote–on measures that affect communities. What would you say to that?

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